The Student Room Group

vet nursing or vet med?

hi,

recently completed 2 weeks of work experience in a vets (over multiple months) intending on applying for veterinary nursing. however, ive always aimed to be a vet and now its time to apply for university im panicking wondering if i should go for vet nursing or not.

if i choose not too - i have to go to college for 2 extra years and redo a level 3 course as the one I am doing will not guarantee me a place at university for veterinary medicine.

could someone maybe provide me with more guidance on what to do? i understand the roles of both vets and nurses but i truly am stuck.
Veterinary surgeons diagnose medical issues, while veterinary nurses provide assistance and manage treatment.
Which aspect of this career interests you the most? Do you feel ready to commit to studying for five years (and potentially beyond)? Keep in mind that this will have financial implications.
Would you be comfortable taking on the responsibility of making critical decisions?

I strongly recommend researching the process of applying to veterinary medicine programs, including the required grades, application steps, and interview preparation. Do you believe you could achieve the necessary grades?
Reply 2
Original post by BelindaFlamazing
Veterinary surgeons diagnose medical issues, while veterinary nurses provide assistance and manage treatment.
Which aspect of this career interests you the most? Do you feel ready to commit to studying for five years (and potentially beyond)? Keep in mind that this will have financial implications.
Would you be comfortable taking on the responsibility of making critical decisions?
I strongly recommend researching the process of applying to veterinary medicine programs, including the required grades, application steps, and interview preparation. Do you believe you could achieve the necessary grades?


i do believe i could. i understand the very different aspects of the two jobs and its always been the job i admired the most. i am very aware of the entry requirements, they’re achievable and the financial side i have family willing to let me stay with them during my education journey. As i have almost finished college doing the wrong course, id have to go back to college for 2 years then apply to university before october 2026 to start in 2027.

equally, i am happy doing any role in the veterinary industry and would settle for veterinary nursing. i do know theyre very different but both, in my eyes, are equally as important despite their differences.

thank you for the help though!
Not sure then what guidence you are looking for.

But good luck with whatever route you are going to choose.
Original post by piggiewig
i do believe i could. i understand the very different aspects of the two jobs and its always been the job i admired the most. i am very aware of the entry requirements, they’re achievable and the financial side i have family willing to let me stay with them during my education journey. As i have almost finished college doing the wrong course, id have to go back to college for 2 years then apply to university before october 2026 to start in 2027.

equally, i am happy doing any role in the veterinary industry and would settle for veterinary nursing. i do know theyre very different but both, in my eyes, are equally as important despite their differences.

thank you for the help though!


This advice is always given to medicine applicants and I would say the same applies for vet med, if you would consider anything else don’t do vet med. If you would ‘settle’ being an RVN knowing the different job roles I wouldn’t go ahead with vet med. Yes they are equally as important, but they have very different roles and I know as a vet student, I want to be involved in the diagnostics and surgical side of things despite having the utmost respect for my VN colleagues who I could and would argue have a harder job especially when it comes to the ‘dirty work’ and being even more underpaid than vets are hence are worth their weight in gold!
Reply 5
Original post by ALEreapp
This advice is always given to medicine applicants and I would say the same applies for vet med, if you would consider anything else don’t do vet med. If you would ‘settle’ being an RVN knowing the different job roles I wouldn’t go ahead with vet med. Yes they are equally as important, but they have very different roles and I know as a vet student, I want to be involved in the diagnostics and surgical side of things despite having the utmost respect for my VN colleagues who I could and would argue have a harder job especially when it comes to the ‘dirty work’ and being even more underpaid than vets are hence are worth their weight in gold!


yeah thats my only doubt! is that ive considered vet nursing and will settle for it. of course i admire the vets and the surgical side of it which i love watching as its fascinating to me.
why is this so difficult! i know i am capable of being a vet but i think im leaning to go for the “easier” route simply due to not wanting to go to college again.
i did have a little bit of a think the first time i was in a practice. one of the vets spoke to me and encouraged me to go to vet med but there was a bit of hesitation to fully commit to it in a way? equally, this vet was somewhat discouraging me to become a RVN, was really bizarre.

thank you so much though, i do think i am leaning towards vet nursing as much as i do admire the veterinarians.
Reply 6
Original post by piggiewig
hi,
recently completed 2 weeks of work experience in a vets (over multiple months) intending on applying for veterinary nursing. however, ive always aimed to be a vet and now its time to apply for university im panicking wondering if i should go for vet nursing or not.
if i choose not too - i have to go to college for 2 extra years and redo a level 3 course as the one I am doing will not guarantee me a place at university for veterinary medicine.
could someone maybe provide me with more guidance on what to do? i understand the roles of both vets and nurses but i truly am stuck.

You've already gotten some good replies, just wanted to leave a link to a podcast episode that helped me, as a vet med applicant, understand more about the role of veterinary nurses and also has some really useful information on how to get the most out of work experience which I 100% recommend to do as the best way to figure out what career is right for you. https://open.spotify.com/episode/15D247opgT2MhSwYxiaYQP?si=FbHJBFdxT0KJrGEOYcxQuw
Enjoy and good luck! 🍀
Reply 7
Original post by marti3x
You've already gotten some good replies, just wanted to leave a link to a podcast episode that helped me, as a vet med applicant, understand more about the role of veterinary nurses and also has some really useful information on how to get the most out of work experience which I 100% recommend to do as the best way to figure out what career is right for you. https://open.spotify.com/episode/15D247opgT2MhSwYxiaYQP?si=FbHJBFdxT0KJrGEOYcxQuw
Enjoy and good luck! 🍀


ahhh thank you!!!!
Reply 8
Original post by piggiewig
yeah thats my only doubt! is that ive considered vet nursing and will settle for it. of course i admire the vets and the surgical side of it which i love watching as its fascinating to me.
why is this so difficult! i know i am capable of being a vet but i think im leaning to go for the “easier” route simply due to not wanting to go to college again.
i did have a little bit of a think the first time i was in a practice. one of the vets spoke to me and encouraged me to go to vet med but there was a bit of hesitation to fully commit to it in a way? equally, this vet was somewhat discouraging me to become a RVN, was really bizarre.
thank you so much though, i do think i am leaning towards vet nursing as much as i do admire the veterinarians.

As an RVN who has applied to study vetmed... remember, if you go the uni route to become an RVN, you would have to pay full tuition fees if you later decided you wanted to continue to train to be a vet.

I am a diploma RVN, therefore I am entitled to full tuition loans for vet med.

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